Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolabart’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolabart’, characterized by its heart-shaped, dark purple-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsolabart’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant botanically known as Ipomoea batatas and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsolabart’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during October 2014. The objective of the breeding program was the development of ornamental Ipomoea cultivars with heart-shaped leaves and a moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading habit.

The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Sweet Caroline Raven ‘NCORNSP-015SCPI’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,613, characterized by its dark purple-colored foliage and compact, semi-upright, mounding growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,013, characterized by its small to medium-sized, heart-shaped, red-purple to red-bronze colored leaves, and moderately compact, mounded-spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2015 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2015 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsolabart’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant:

-   -   1. Heart-shaped, dark purple-colored foliage; and     -   2. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a darker purple-colored foliage. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different foliage color.

Of the many commercially available ornamental Ipomoea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SolarPower Black Improved ‘Balsolablim’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,512. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolablim’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have heart-shaped foliage unlike         plants of ‘Balsolablim’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have slightly darker colored         leaves than plants of ‘Balsolablim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsolabart’. The plants were grown in 4-inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Balsolabart’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Balsolabart’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2018 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 72° F. (20° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 64° F. to 66° F. (18° C. to 19° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘Balsolabart’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Sweet Caroline Raven ‘NCORNSP-015SCPI’, U.S.             Plant Pat. No. 23,613.         -   Male parent.—‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red’, U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 19,013. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 to 4 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium thickness.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Tuber description.—Not available, tuber formation not             observed to date. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 to 5 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 14.5 cm. Width: Approximately             32.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 2 main shoots, each with approximately 6             lateral branches.         -   Branch.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong, slightly flexible.             Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             5.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 9.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stems: 187B. Color of             mature stems: 187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate, spiral.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acuminate to broadly acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern:             Palmate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 12.5 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 8.5 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 144A with an overlay of N186A, venation of 187A to             same color as lamina. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: Closest to 191A with a faint overlay of 187A,             venation same color as lamina with midvein base of 187B.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to but             darker than N186A with venation of 187A. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: Closest to but more greyish             purple than N186C, venation of N 186D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 8.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 187A. -   Flowering description: Not available, flower and seed formation not     observed to date. The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is grown as a     foliage plant and is not grown under conditions that are conducive     to flower production. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Ipomoea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsolabart’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 